BCS Rankings: System Got Title Game Right Despite Constant Negativity

The amount of criticism the BCS gets on a yearly basis is amazing. It comes from everywhere. From coaches and television analysts all the way down to the casual sports fan who doesn't even watch college football on a regular basis.

But, at least for this season, the system got it right by pitting Alabama and LSU in a rematch for the 2012 BCS National Championship.

That statement is not an indictment of Oklahoma State's season. That said, you simply can't compare a loss to an unranked team to one against the nation's clear No. 1, regardless of the surrounding circumstances at the time.

The Cowboys only have themselves to blame. Losing to a far inferior Iowa State squad with two weeks left in the regular season is just too much to overcome. Especially since the voters continued to show Alabama a ton of respect following its loss to LSU.

Both teams knocked off four ranked teams and suffered their only loss in overtime. The Crimson Tide have a dominant offense, while the Cowboys have a high-powered offense.

Those are just a few of the similarities between the two teams, so it's no surprise that the final standings were so close. And when it's that close, a bad loss is deadly.

In all likelihood, the main reason casual fans are outraged is because rematches have a bad rap. People don't like watching a matchup they've seen before. The previous meeting being a snooze-fest certainly doesn't help matters.

However, the BCS' job is to sort through all the arguments and spit out the most well-rounded rankings it can. If that means there has to be a rematch, so be it.

LSU and Alabama posted the two strongest résumés in the country this season and also happen to reside in the nation's predominant conference. It's hard to argue against surviving that journey with a 24-1 combined record, with the only loss coming because one team had to lose.

No matter what system college football uses to determine its national champion, it will end up leaving certain teams disappointed. So, when the current setup works like it should, it deserves credit.

And this season is one of those times.